Looking for a match made in Hell.

[Joe D. Stortion]

As you may know already, I'm getting a Santana SE to experiment with. I'm looking at trying out different PRS pickups. I want a combination that is unique, not necessarily a pair PRS would've put together stock.

In the bridge, I'm definately looking for something hard and heavy, something that would stand out. The HFS pickup descriptions have really caught my attention. That sounds like it might be where I want to go. Unless there's something else you'd suggest.

However, for a neck position, I'm looking for something with a lot more class, a pickup which will make up for how nasty my bridge pickup may be. I don't mind if the two are a little unblanced volume wise, but just as long as an adjustment of the pickup heights would help it out. Any suggestions?

-Joe

[Brian]

Vintage Bass usually comes paired with the HFS just for that reason, the two pair very well. I have them in my Cu24 and the two are a very versatile combo.

However, I feel that I can be of more help because I just recently modded my Santana SE with new pickups. I put in Splittable #10 pickups (can be special ordered through pushers if you ask nicely). And they sound great, very vintage vibe but hotter than McCartys. I don't know if they fit your "nasty" description, but very good pickups nonetheless. You may want to call up Jack Gretz at Magdon Music, he may be able to help you out. For my recommendation, I'd say if you want a modern sound, go HFS/VB, if you want vintage go #10s or McCartys. Feel free to drop me a message if I can be of any more help

[Dan Desy]

#6 neck, definitely. Much better neck pickup than the VB, which I can't stand...

[Aldwyn]

Dragon II in the neck, and a Chain Saw in the bridge. :D

Well, you said you wanted hot and heavy!

Peace,
Aldwyn

[Joe D. Stortion]

I was actually thinking of an Archtop Bass neck and a #7 Bridge (as I love the one in my SC) as an option. I know the Archtop isn't very hot and would probably be unbalanced, but just think of all those '70's/80's metal axes with DiMarzios--usually a Super Distortion (13k OHMs) and a PAF (8k). As stated before, I like lots of Treble in my neck position.

-Joe

[Adam]

Why not go the whole nine yards here? Try the archtop neck and put a Dragon I or Tremonti Treble in the bridge! That would definately get the results you're looking for.

[Bill McDowell]

vintage bass neck

[Brian]

Why not go one more-
Archtop neck
2 Hot Rails squeezed into the bridge

[Joe D. Stortion]

Now that's just sick.

I guess one could run a pair of hotrails in that way. But what I really want is a chrome covered humbucker. I think I might go all out and use something like sosomething suggested.

Now what is preferred, the Tremonti, the HFS or Dragon I?

Also since this thread's about what's going IN my Santana SE. Series 2 or 1 tuners?

-Joe

[Brian]

Definitely go phase II tuners. They made a big sustain difference in my SE. The screw holes do not line up, but if you put the screw in the original holes, there is enough overlap to hold the tuners in place. Check this out to see what i'm talking about.

http://www.duke.edu/~bjl7/headstock.jpg

[Joe D. Stortion]

I've got no problem re-drilling, filling old holes and touching up the paint. So that much doesn't matter to me. I just want to know what people prefer.

-Joe

[Brian]

Still gonna vote for phase IIs.

[Joe D. Stortion]

http://www.masterofdarkness.net/prsi.JPGOn the right is the soon to be modified Santana SE in question. She just arrived today. These Korean guitars have improved leaps and bounds since I first was a beginner--I've played tons of them.

Anyway... She sounds great as-is. But I still am thinking of swapping the P/ups. I'm actually kinda uncertain about using the super high-output bridge pickup now. Maybe I should go for something classier. Maybe a Santana II treble pickup. Still like the idea of the Archtop in the neck--a low output, bright neck pickup can sound awesome sometimes.

As for the tuners--I still wanna see what everyone else likes. Also gotta get a trem arm, since the one here is MIA.

-Joe

[Joe D. Stortion]

Just an update:

I meant to say Santana III Treble in the previous post. Which IS the pickup I've decided on. I'll give it a try. Why the heck not. Most likely still gonna use the Archtop Bass for the neck position. I purchased the Santana III, a new trem arm and new strap buttons to start my modding. I don't like the stock buttons on this, so I'm gonna fit some PRS ones on there. The screws aren't that much narrower on the PRS the PRS screws are longer. So no trouble there. I might swap the knobs for gold ones as well, don't know yet.

-Joe